Fjöldinn

Fjöldinn is the definite form of the Icelandic noun fjöldi, meaning "the crowd" or "the multitude." The term denotes a large group of people gathered in one place, the general public, or the mass of people in a society. In usage, fjöldinn can refer to either a physical crowd at an event or to the idea of public opinion when discussed collectively.

Etymology: fjöldi derives from Old Norse fjǫld, meaning "people, nation," and is related to the modern Icelandic word for "people" and "population." The definite form fjöldinn combines fjöldi with the definite article -inn, signaling a particular crowd already known in discourse.

Usage and nuance: In journalism and political commentary, fjöldinn is often used to describe crowd behavior, mobilization, or the influence of public opinion. The word can carry neutral descriptive meaning or, depending on context, imply a critical or emotional tone regarding the mass or mob dynamics.

In culture, the concept appears across Icelandic literature and media whenever discussions of democracy, protests, or social movements invoke the collective. While there are no widely cited works titled "Fjöldinn" as a standalone canonical text, the term frequently appears in essays and reportage to frame collective action.

See also: crowd, public, mass, crowd psychology, Icelandic language.